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Mission Statement:District 88 mission: To work for the continuous improvement of student achievement. Through that mission, District 88 schools have been named as Top Schools in America by Newsweek and the Washington Post.

Parents

District 88 celebrates the beginning of the 2016-17 school year

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

Welcome to the 2016-17 school year!

The District 88 Board of Education, administration and staff continue to focus on our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement. We are proud of our past successes – including Addison Trail and Willowbrook once again being recognized by The Washington Post as two of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools.” Columnist Jay Mathews implemented that national ranking system for high schools, which formerly was in Newsweek, and District 88 has been ranked in his challenge index for nine consecutive years, since 2008. Addison Trail and Willowbrook also were named as “Best Public High Schools” in the 2016 Niche Rankings, and District 88 was ranked 32nd in Illinois. Our schools received recognition as two of the “Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report as well. We look forward to many more successes to come this year.

Our first day of school was Aug. 17, and it was great to see the energy and enthusiasm of the students and staff. It’s always a tremendous feeling to greet students as they step off the bus and into the buildings for their first day. To welcome students, Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause and I rode a bus to school, and Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden and I rode a bus home with students at the end of the day. We also began the school year for our District 88 Transition Program, which helps cognitively disabled students ages 19 to 21 learn life skills, obtain job training in a community setting and successfully transition to adult life. It was an amazing first day, filled with opportunities to meet with our students and staff!

Top: District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton (center) and Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden (right) welcome sophomore Alicia Acevedo to the 2016-17 school year. Helton and Bolden rode a bus with students to celebrate the beginning of the school year on Aug. 17. Bottom left: District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton (left) and Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden (right) ride a bus with students to celebrate the beginning of the 2016-17 school year on Aug. 17. Bottom right: District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton (center) and Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden (right) welcome freshman Joshua Sundling to the 2016-17 school year.

Top left: Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause (left) and District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton (right) ride a bus to school with students to celebrate the beginning of the 2016-17 school year on Aug. 17. Top right: Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause takes a selfie with students during a bus ride on the first day of the 2016-17 school year, Aug. 17. Bottom: Willowbrook Drum Line members spread school spirit as they perform throughout the school on the first day of the 2016-17 school year, Aug. 17.

Other highlights from the first day of school and the beginning of the 2016-17 school year include:

Addison Trail

96.2 percent of students attended the first day of school. Staff members displayed the 2016-17 Blazer Pride T-shirt, which celebrates the school’s 50th anniversary this year.

The Buildings and Grounds staff had all the rooms cleaned and the floors waxed before the start of school.

The fall athletic season has begun. The school’s first football game will take place on Aug. 26 at Addison Trail (varsity will begin at 7:30 p.m. versus Glenbard South). All other fall sports are practicing for their season.

Willowbrook

98.1 percent of students attended the first day of school. Staff members displayed the 2016-17 Warrior Pride T-shirt.

The Willowbrook Drum Line welcomed students by playing in the hallways before school.

The Buildings and Grounds staff had all the rooms cleaned and the floors waxed before the start of school.

The fall athletic season has begun. The school’s first football game will take place on Aug. 26 (varsity will begin at 7:15 p.m. versus Grayslake North). All other fall sports are practicing for their season.

District 88 Transition Program

The Transition Program welcomed 36 students this year. Another 18 students will participate in the College of DuPage (COD) Connections program, and more details about that program will be shared soon.

The Transition Program plans to open its Perks & Possibilities Café at 9 a.m. on Sept. 14. This is the seventh year the café will be open. Students in the Transition Program help set up the café, and several students stay for job training. The café is open from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday in the Addison Public Library. This year, the goal is to extend the café's hours and services. The café is successful because of generous donations from the community.

This year, Transition Program students will experience community-based learning opportunities such as joining recreational leagues and going to museums, theatre performances and other venues to develop life skills. They also will enjoy guest speakers to learn about services offered in their community and to increase independent living skills.

Students in the Transition Program receive job training at more than 20 vocational sites. The program is always looking for new job-training sites. If you’re interested, contact District 88 Vocational Coordinator Christine DiRienzo at cdirienzo@dupage88.net or 630-530-3248.

Institute Day

Left: District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton welcomes District 88 staff members to the 2016-17 school year during Institute Day on Aug. 15. Right: Gary Howard from the Gary Howard Equity Institute works with District 88 staff members to continue the district's focus on inclusion, equity and excellence for all students.

To prepare for the first day of school, District 88 staff members participated in an Institute Day on Aug. 15. We began the day with a presentation and video that highlighted successes from the 2015-16 school year, as well as updates for this year. We then welcomed Gary Howard from the Gary Howard Equity Institute to continue working together for inclusion, equity and excellence for all students. District 88 formed an Equity Task Force in spring 2015 to further enhance the district’s cultural competency, and that group has been participating in Deep Equity training with Howard. We also discussed enhancements to our staff evaluation process under the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) and set goals as Professional Learning Communities. We are thrilled to have about 4,000 students back in the classrooms as we begin 2016-17, and we can’t wait to see the great things that develop throughout the year.

It is our goal for the 2016-17 school year to ensure all of our students develop high-level skills and knowledge that will support college and career readiness and prepare them for successful post-secondary experiences. The District 88 mission and vision will shape our work for 2016-17. Our focus and initiatives this year will include continuing the great work that takes place in District 88 through:

Continuing to close the achievement gap to ensure all students are successful

Continuing to look at best practices with regard to technology to ensure the district remains on the cutting edge and provides students with 21st-century skills – we must always provide our students with an education that is focused on what they will need in the future, not just today

Maintaining a comprehensive curriculum and school environment to build futures for all students, while remaining fiscally responsible

Continuing to partner with post-secondary institutions to expand dual-credit and certification opportunities for all students

Partnering with parents/guardians and community members to maintain support systems that reinforce high student performance

Continuing our open, honest and transparent communication with all stakeholders

District 88 offers a meaningful and comprehensive educational program that provides our students with a strong foundation for success beyond high school, and the 2016-17 school year will provide yet another opportunity to expand on our accomplishments. I would like to thank you for your support of our programs and staff members and for your partnership in “Building Futures” for the students of District 88.